The mountains those pillars and foundations of the earth are everywhere beautiful whether
their predominating character be that of wild grandeur or graceful softness but it can scarce
be denied that the union of all these peculiarities and advantages is nowhere so complete and
perfect in the beauty of ever-changeful variety as in that part of the German Alps generally
described as the Bavarian Mountains. An equal charm is thrown over the country Near the
Mountains and indeed as its qualities form one of the chief beauties of these mountains in
this respect we are justified in first turning our attention thither. The mountains themselves
then stand up in impregnable ramparts which like the isolated advanced works of a gigantic
central fortress spread out and push forward on every side. It is not indeed impossible for
human courage and strength to surmount them as trenches are stormed and roofs climbed but the
calm and happy traveller and friend of Nature prefers to seek the doors which the world of
mountains has itself left open and through these - as it were living roads which to the
present hour maintain the ancient intercourse between hill and plain - to seek his diversion.
These doors and highways are the rivers and the valleys which the former have hollowed out and
dug in the heart of the mountains and on that account lead by the nearest and safest way back
to that heart. [...] This reprint of the original published work from 1874 is a wonderful book
on the Bavarian Mountains and parts of Austria including several illustrations.
